Ready to feel supported for the holidays?
If you live with chronic illness or health challenges...
This guide was created for you.
The Gentle Guide to Creating Joy & Connection for the Holidays
while living with Chronic Illness + Health Challenges
Get Your GuideAUTHOR FEATURED IN:
You Can Have Peace + Joy
This Holiday Season
This workbook will guide you in:
- Navigating symptoms amidst travel and social gatherings
- Finding creative and accessible ways to participate in holiday festivities
- Communicating with your loved ones in a caring, collaborative way
- Finding peace, joy, and connection, no matter how much energy you have
Yes, You Really Can Have This.
You deserve a holiday season full of support, connection, and fun!
GET YOUR COPY
This Holiday, You Can…
- Be a part of the fun in ways that feel doable for you
- Feel connected to the people you care about
- Show up exactly as you are
The right tools and support can make a big difference. We’ll cover it all in The Guide to Joy + Connection for the Holidays while living with Chronic Illness.
INTRODUCING
A Gentle Guide To Creating Joy + Connection For The Holidays
Are you ready to take a caring approach to health challenges this holiday season?
This 5-part workbook will show you everything you need to know to create a restful, spacious, and enjoyable season with the people you love. You’ll learn how to:
- Include rest in your holiday and travel planning
- Stay connected, even when you aren't feeling great
- Create special experiences with your loved ones—while taking your energy levels into account
What's Included In The Workbook...
PART 1
Navigating Rest + Connection
Getting enough rest is key when it comes to living with health challenges. And it's even more crucial during the holidays. In this section, you'll learn:
- How to plan ahead for rest in the midst of travel and festivities
- Key areas to consider when making your holiday schedule
- The unique factors contributing to fatigue during the holidays
PART 2
Reflecting On Your Holiday Needs + Wishes
One of the most important (and overlooked) parts of getting support for the holidays is to get clear on what you truly want. In this section, you’ll learn:
- A practice for connecting with what you love most about the holidays
- How to identify your own needs and wishes when it comes to holiday joy and fulfillment
- What is most meaningful to you as you gather with your loved ones
PART 3
Creative Ways to Find Joy
It's especially important to feel included and connected when you gather to celebrate the holidays. Chronic illness and health challenges may require us to get creative in how we participate. In this section, you’ll learn:
- Collaborative ways to create accessible holiday plans with your loved ones
- How to navigate activities and traditions that may be harder to participate in due to health challenges
- Creative examples of how to adjust plans or make new opportunities for connection, even with challenging symptoms
PART 4
Sharing With Your Loved Ones
Caring communication with your friends, family, and chosen family is one of the keys to co-creating meaningful holiday experiences. In this section, you’ll learn:
- A fun and connected way to begin the conversation with your loved ones
- What health-related topics to consider discussing
- Examples of how to share hard things in a caring way
PART 5
Creating Connection Through Imperfection
Just like any holiday, there will be disappointments, surprises, and unexpected joys. It's possible to build connection in the midst of these imperfect moments—including when health challenges are involved. In this section, you'll learn:
- How to make the shift from feeling alone in the challenges to feeling connected
- Five things we tend to keep to ourselves—but can help create connection when shared
- Why your unique experience is so important to share with your friends, family, and chosen family
This Guide Is For You If...
- You want to feel connected to your loved ones this holiday season
- You live with a new or chronic health condition that may impact your participation
- You're interested in having support for the challenging aspects of holiday planning and communication
- You want to have a holiday that's just as joyful as (or even more joyful than!) holidays in the past
NICE TO MEET YOU!
I'm Lauren Selfridge
I'm a licensed psychotherapist specializing in relationships and chronic illness, and the host of This Is Not What I Ordered: a podcast on finding our way with chronic illness, loss, and change. After an MS diagnosis in 2015, I experienced a shift in my priorities and my definition of fulfillment. As a result, I’m way more focused on joy, meaning, and connection. A big part of my life’s work is helping people build strong relationships with themselves and the people they care about.
"I tend to worry about the winter holidays each year, but Lauren's workbook has helped me feel so much calmer going into the season. I felt so warm and cozy going through the exercises. This year I'm actually looking forward to connecting with people in a genuine way."
- Krista
"Lauren put so much heart into this guide. It's calming, organized, helpful, and not overwhelming like some workbooks."
- Jenny
"This workbook shows that it's possible to create new traditions that honor your needs and bandwidth. It's inspiring, soothing and practical, with a clear roadmap to creating new possibilities for connection and fulfillment."
